Its so frustrating because I really do not know what to do anymore. Imagine if you neighbor just started having guests over that parked in your driveway all the time. This woman wasn't even hovering, she just parked and got out.
Paul's Journal
My Podcast Link
05/21/2008 23:28 #44415
So much for the parking guardCategory: linwood
After all the drama with the driveway and the parking situation, some parked in our driveway again. There was no one monitoring the situation like they promised. The woman got out of her car and went into the church for about 10 minutes before coming out and driving away.
Its so frustrating because I really do not know what to do anymore. Imagine if you neighbor just started having guests over that parked in your driveway all the time. This woman wasn't even hovering, she just parked and got out.
Its so frustrating because I really do not know what to do anymore. Imagine if you neighbor just started having guests over that parked in your driveway all the time. This woman wasn't even hovering, she just parked and got out.
05/21/2008 23:04 #44413
Death NoteCategory: movies
I went to go see Death Note with (e:imk2), (e:metalpeter), (e:jenks), (e:tibruon1724), dan, and faben. It was pretty great. Poor (e:enknot) - he missed it but he would have freakin loved it. I think it is the first time I have ever been to a movie with such a jazzed up fan base.
The storyline was pretty good. It was like a live action. I would suggest seeing it tomorrow if you can.
Wikipedia link:
Anime Site:
Live Action Movie:
There is a sequel coming out and there is even a prequel about L who was by far the hotest of the main characters:
The storyline was pretty good. It was like a live action. I would suggest seeing it tomorrow if you can.
Wikipedia link:
Anime Site:
Live Action Movie:
There is a sequel coming out and there is even a prequel about L who was by far the hotest of the main characters:
metalpeter - 05/22/08 17:09
The movie was really good. I really liked how L was so much like his character with all his odd movements the foot thing and phone come to mind. It is easy to lose those little details. You have to give it fans who scream when their favorite character comes on screen the people in fron to us where very interesting.
The movie was really good. I really liked how L was so much like his character with all his odd movements the foot thing and phone come to mind. It is easy to lose those little details. You have to give it fans who scream when their favorite character comes on screen the people in fron to us where very interesting.
imk2 - 05/22/08 10:32
hey faben has an estrip name it's (e:limsey)! although she's lame and never posts
hey faben has an estrip name it's (e:limsey)! although she's lame and never posts
mrmike - 05/22/08 07:54
Should have bailed on my meeting and gone
Should have bailed on my meeting and gone
05/21/2008 11:14 #44407
Four months of freetimeCategory: work
What is the dollar value of four months of freetime? This is the question I keep asking myself for the last hour.
imk2 - 05/22/08 10:35
would you be able to do both? stay here part time and there full time? I don't think poFs work a Full 40 hours.
would you be able to do both? stay here part time and there full time? I don't think poFs work a Full 40 hours.
tinypliny - 05/22/08 09:11
If you actually like your work a lot, then 4 months of free time, though alluring, could be an abyss of boredom. You might wish you had just asked for a week at most.
If you actually like your work a lot, then 4 months of free time, though alluring, could be an abyss of boredom. You might wish you had just asked for a week at most.
leetee - 05/21/08 16:27
The dollar value of 4 months of freetime is more than the wage someone would earn in that time. Particularly, if it will keep that someone sane and healthy.
The dollar value of 4 months of freetime is more than the wage someone would earn in that time. Particularly, if it will keep that someone sane and healthy.
hodown - 05/21/08 12:41
Do you have that as an option?!
Do you have that as an option?!
joshua - 05/21/08 11:57
Too high - I can't afford it!
Too high - I can't afford it!
05/20/2008 22:19 #44404
The Block Club Meeting at the ChurchCategory: linwood
First of all I would like to mention that I love the block club president. I would vote for him for president of the USA in a heartbeat. He just seems so honest, driven, dedicated and organized.
There was talk about surface parking vs preservation, actually not about our situation but about the JCC that wants to expand their surface parking. The block club president suggested they add pick up and drop off zone instead.
Possible Solutions
I was thinking that might be a solution for the church next door. What if they had the 3-4 parking spots in front of the church on Linwood converted into 5-10 minute drop off zone during certain hours. Also, maybe we can fight to get rid of the only single sided parking after 6 or at least extend double sided parking to 9PM so that more people can park during "business hours." Its not like it is a narrow street.
Talking with the church people
We talked to some of the ladies we know from the church and they seemed to understand our situation. I really like them. The one woman said she spoke to Father Armand and tried to explain how we have to deal with it all the time and the people give us trouble and that he doesn't see it all the time.
Either way, someone must have said something because it was totally in order today. People parked and walked their kids to the door. I hope it stays that way.
I still can't believe Father Armand tried to make it a race thing when it is obviously about cars. It makes me wonder what else he blames on other things in his life.
(e:matthew) and the grounds guy
Before the meeting (e:matthew) had a talk with the grounds guy that led us to believe that he and Father A also misunderstood our property line . 10.2 feet of the driveway is ours and 3.5 feet is theirs according to our property map, you can see below. You cannot possibly park anything on 3.5 feet and the preservation district won't let them build more surface parking which leads to the issue they are having.
Maybe the misunderstand comes from an agreement with the original purchasers of the house from the church to share the driveway as part of purchasing the property from the church. According to our contract, those terms did not transfer to us. Specifically worded, "this reservation of rights shall not be covenant that runs with the land and does not bind all successors, heirs or assigns of grantee."
I hope it works out between us and by that I mean, we don't have problems with people blocking or parking in our driveway, they find out some parking solution for them, we are on speaking terms with all the church people. Although, honestly, at this point I could care less if I ever saw Father Armand again after this.
There was talk about surface parking vs preservation, actually not about our situation but about the JCC that wants to expand their surface parking. The block club president suggested they add pick up and drop off zone instead.
Possible Solutions
I was thinking that might be a solution for the church next door. What if they had the 3-4 parking spots in front of the church on Linwood converted into 5-10 minute drop off zone during certain hours. Also, maybe we can fight to get rid of the only single sided parking after 6 or at least extend double sided parking to 9PM so that more people can park during "business hours." Its not like it is a narrow street.
Talking with the church people
We talked to some of the ladies we know from the church and they seemed to understand our situation. I really like them. The one woman said she spoke to Father Armand and tried to explain how we have to deal with it all the time and the people give us trouble and that he doesn't see it all the time.
Either way, someone must have said something because it was totally in order today. People parked and walked their kids to the door. I hope it stays that way.
I still can't believe Father Armand tried to make it a race thing when it is obviously about cars. It makes me wonder what else he blames on other things in his life.
(e:matthew) and the grounds guy
Before the meeting (e:matthew) had a talk with the grounds guy that led us to believe that he and Father A also misunderstood our property line . 10.2 feet of the driveway is ours and 3.5 feet is theirs according to our property map, you can see below. You cannot possibly park anything on 3.5 feet and the preservation district won't let them build more surface parking which leads to the issue they are having.
Maybe the misunderstand comes from an agreement with the original purchasers of the house from the church to share the driveway as part of purchasing the property from the church. According to our contract, those terms did not transfer to us. Specifically worded, "this reservation of rights shall not be covenant that runs with the land and does not bind all successors, heirs or assigns of grantee."
I hope it works out between us and by that I mean, we don't have problems with people blocking or parking in our driveway, they find out some parking solution for them, we are on speaking terms with all the church people. Although, honestly, at this point I could care less if I ever saw Father Armand again after this.
05/20/2008 17:21 #44401
Seriously Father ArmandCategory: linwood
I don't think we can ever live amicably with one another now that you suggested this is purely a matter of racism. You might as well pretend I am just singling you out because you are gay, lol. It shows me how out of touch you are with the whole situation. The only reasons I single out the dance camp instead of the other groups is that:
1. No other group has ever given me attitude about moving their cars.
2. No other group consists of 50 or more people that drop off and pick up people for hours at a time.
P.S. I have also alerted the commander of the star ship enterprise in the delta quadrant. He will be giving us advice as well.
1. No other group has ever given me attitude about moving their cars.
2. No other group consists of 50 or more people that drop off and pick up people for hours at a time.
Dear Paul,
Please believe me that I am upset over the difficulties we are having as neighbors. We are trying our best to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement between all of us.
The simple answer to your question of your last e-mail is yes, you need to call the police whenever anyone blocks the driveway. Perhaps even better would be to have a police officer here when you believe the situation is at its worst. They will be able to immediately cite those who are blocking the driveway. We will share the cost with you of having a police officer here to evaluate the situation.
As I mentioned in my last e-mail, Karen has hired a traffic guard for the pick up time, but I believe having a police officer there would do a lot to quell the situation, along with our long overdue sign.
You must have been aware when you purchased 24 Linwood that there were activities going on at the church. If not, that is the fault of your real estate attorney. The Dance Camp has been here many years and we are not in a position to ask them to leave. I am also aware that your anger is directed at an African American group, which has given me cause for concern.
I have alerted the Chancellor of the Diocese of Western New York about our situation. He will be monitoring the situation and give us advice as needed.
Again Paul, I truly hope (and pray) that we can work this out and we will be able to reside amicably with one another.
P.S. I have also alerted the commander of the star ship enterprise in the delta quadrant. He will be giving us advice as well.
paul - 05/20/08 22:20
I wrote the newest journal (e:paul,44404) after this but I didn't reply as I am done talking with him directly after that last email.
I wrote the newest journal (e:paul,44404) after this but I didn't reply as I am done talking with him directly after that last email.
imk2 - 05/20/08 20:36
so did you reply to him yet?
so did you reply to him yet?
zobar - 05/20/08 20:22
I live across the street from an expensive private high school and I have to say it's not noticeably less aggravating or illegal to be blocked out of your driveway by self-entitled white people than it is to be blocked out of your driveway by self-entitled black people. Fortunately for us [sort of], their comings and goings [usually] don't coincide with ours so we don't [often] have to throw down.
Is it that only the dance camp people block your driveway? or is it just that that's who's blocking your driveway when you need to use it?
- Z
I live across the street from an expensive private high school and I have to say it's not noticeably less aggravating or illegal to be blocked out of your driveway by self-entitled white people than it is to be blocked out of your driveway by self-entitled black people. Fortunately for us [sort of], their comings and goings [usually] don't coincide with ours so we don't [often] have to throw down.
Is it that only the dance camp people block your driveway? or is it just that that's who's blocking your driveway when you need to use it?
- Z
tiburon1724 - 05/20/08 18:39
always the race card, gotta love it
always the race card, gotta love it
metalpeter - 05/20/08 18:29
Just to give a different perspective. If I had a place and leased it out to someone else who had a class there and there where problems with the street, I wouldn't do anything, not because I'm mean but it is a public street I have no control over it. What parents should do is park and walk there kids there or they should do the same thing when they pick them up. I would tell the dance people to tell the parents that. But other then that it is a parking issue that needs to be taken up with the police and the meter people. I would let you know that if anyone parks in your drive way or in the way of it to call cops and have it towed. The Parents are the problem and by the time it goes from you to the church to the class to the parents the message won't mean anything or it might sound different. I don't drive but one thing I have learned from watching someone I know is that yelling from a car doesn't do anything except cause more yelling and maybe a fist fight.
So I say try to get any car that does anything illegal ticketed. It is to bad you can't put something you own in front of your drive way so that it isn't blocked by a car cause it can't block it and you just have to move that small thing out of the way.
I do have one other idea. You should have other people on linwood who see a double parking or driveway blocked to call the cops if they see it. Once two people get a nice ticket they will start parking someplace.
Just to give a different perspective. If I had a place and leased it out to someone else who had a class there and there where problems with the street, I wouldn't do anything, not because I'm mean but it is a public street I have no control over it. What parents should do is park and walk there kids there or they should do the same thing when they pick them up. I would tell the dance people to tell the parents that. But other then that it is a parking issue that needs to be taken up with the police and the meter people. I would let you know that if anyone parks in your drive way or in the way of it to call cops and have it towed. The Parents are the problem and by the time it goes from you to the church to the class to the parents the message won't mean anything or it might sound different. I don't drive but one thing I have learned from watching someone I know is that yelling from a car doesn't do anything except cause more yelling and maybe a fist fight.
So I say try to get any car that does anything illegal ticketed. It is to bad you can't put something you own in front of your drive way so that it isn't blocked by a car cause it can't block it and you just have to move that small thing out of the way.
I do have one other idea. You should have other people on linwood who see a double parking or driveway blocked to call the cops if they see it. Once two people get a nice ticket they will start parking someplace.
paul - 05/20/08 17:42
I did point that out. He was obviously lying. On a positive note, there was no one blocking the driveway when I came home today.
I did point that out. He was obviously lying. On a positive note, there was no one blocking the driveway when I came home today.
imk2 - 05/20/08 17:31
ok, you need to point out to him that he said himself that he would need to kick them out if the situation didnt get better in his first email.
ok, you need to point out to him that he said himself that he would need to kick them out if the situation didnt get better in his first email.
(e:matt)
You mentioned one thing that I didn't think about bur it really is true. That is the safety issue. I think the policy that the parent (or who ever drops off and picks up) needs to come to the door to get the kid and drop them off. The example you gave is a perfect example of why that is a good idea. Lets face it kids get snatched up everyday in this country . what if you guys were not home then or what if the kid would have went to a house of someone who has a thing for kids it could have been a lot worse. Not only that but what if there is a parental dispute and the parent who isn't supposed to have the kid that day gets there first and the kid doesn't think anything of it and just hopes in the car. Maybe presenting the church with the fact that what they are not doing isn't safe might be a good idea, even if it doesn't help with the drive way and the traffic problems (and it could help you guys also). In terms of the term Fagot try not to let in bother you to much. If they know you are gay and say it that is one thing. But often "Us stights" use that term as a way of putting someone down when we assume someone isn't because to someone who isn't it is a big insult. I myself think there is nothing wrong with being gay but if some else does to call them that really gets them upset. I don't really have any other advise for you guys but I do wish you luck in finding a way to solve this with out fist fights.
Okay, I'll admit the "Walgreen's" example didn't make much sense. My real point should have been that there is much more to this situation than just "i don't want you in my driveway". Much more than a sign or a fence will solve.
I've been trying to have a good neighborly relationship with the church from the beginning. We understood it takes a lot of patience living next to a large organization like the church. especially one with no parking. So I've felt in the last two years living at 24 Linwood that keeping an open conversation with the church "leaders" was best. I've talked many times with the grounds keeper about not just this problem but all the problems concerning us and the church. He told me he'd continue to talk with father Armand. So when the father's latest response to paul was that we are trying to make this a "racial situation" based on paul's (e:strip) journals, i was beyond personally offended. You need to know someone pretty god damn well before you accuse them of being a racist. After that, I truly hoped the church would find a solution to their problem on their own. They didn't.
i have a lot of experience in large children's organizations that require a parent drop off -pick up situation like the Chruch's Dance Camp needs. i worked at the JCC just down the street that had this exact problem. So i can see the problem from both points of view. The difference here is A. the JCC had actual parking, and B. The JCC had a policy that the parents must walk their children to the door. This is such a reasonable idea for an urban children's program! The church's dance camps current policy seems to be - stop in the street at the busy intersection of North and Linwood ave (or the private driveway at neighboring 24 Linwood)with your flashers on (while traffic piles up behing you) and let you kid jump out of the car and run to the church's door about 80 feet away. Sometime up to 50 families on a weekend. Anyone besides me see a lot of problems with this? Not just trespassing but safety. One time last year a parent belonging to the dance camp let their 5 or 6 year old out at the street and pulled away before their child got to the door. It turned out that there was NO dance Camp on this particular day. So who has to deal with the crying 5 year old who is scarred and wants their mommy?? answer is... Me and my friend holly, who found the right phone numbers, where able to contact the church who then contacted the dance camp to deal with their problem a few hours later.
If you have no parking maybe you should work with the city of Buffalo and declare you need a designated street spot marked by signs as a drop-off children's zone. or maybe the church should seek tenants other than the dance camp. One , maybe, that doesn't need parking that the church doesn't have. Like the AA meetings. Or maybe the church can put in their own driveway with their own entrance. What crazy solutions, i know. Instead, i'm told there is nothing the church can do and to call the police if the problem continues. Hmmm, looking back maybe i should have just called the cops on that 5 year old and let them deal with it. That's the churches current answer, right? JUST TALK TO THE FREAKIN" PARENTS YOURSELF! Don't they want a safe solution as well? gosh.
I'd also like to point out that this is not just 24 Linwood's complaint. I've talked with the other neighbors on my block and many of them agree or have their own set of problems with the traffic vioalations the church creates. (also the litter problem, but that's a whole other story.) I'm thinking i should write a formal letter of complaint and have the agreeing residents sign it and send it directly to city hall. If the church won't listen to us we'll step above them.
I don't know. I really think there are reasonable solutions that will make all party's happy. But the church really hasn't been helpful.
Finally, I'm tired of being called "faggot" when i ask the people not to park in the driveway. "You better watch you're back" and "we obviously know where you live" are some of my other favorite threats. I don't want these people to become my enemies. I don't deserve harassment for having a private driveway that happens to be next to the church. Maybe I'll just continue to turn my back, close my ears, and water my lawn and trust that the church has the neighborhoods best interest in mind with their dance camp drop off pick up policy in my driveway. BLAH!
i have so much more to say, maybe i'll bring this topic to my own journal. Thanks for listening.
yeah. I know you shouldn't have to come up with solutions, but it has been fun.
Anyway, they will regret telling you to take matters in your own hands if you bring a lawsuit against the church.
And I promise, that is the last solution I will offer.
Hi Matt
First of all sorry about all the problems with the parking there. I think that since it is a church they should tell the people not to park in or blocking the driveway. That being said I will use walgreens as an example. If people at the lenox or that other hotel were to park at walgreens then walgreens would have to call the tow trucks themselves and would have to be the ones to go out and tell people to leave. Yes I would agree that those two places should explain if we are out of spots and you go to walgreens to park they will tow your car. I think the real problem is that the people (or some of them) who park in your driveway or who block it will continue to do so. They are not willing to take the extra time to find a real spot when they can just run in real quickly.
This is one of those tricky spots where what one should do is not what one is responsible for. I think the church should tell people not to park there. But really it is your property all they can really do is call the cops if they see something. Or do what ever they can so people know the driveway isn't theres. But again since it is your property they can't really do much. But the flip side to that is I'm sure the church could do a lot more then what they are doing by saying listen if you don't follow parking laws we don't want you here. But I'm sure they would rather have the people mad at you then at the church, they don't want to lose any Business.
I'm sorry you guys are still dealing with this, you shouldn't have to. Maybe the class will end soon and the issue will go away for sometime, I wish you luck.
"private drive" not private job. sorry fot the typo
I live at 24 Linwood also. All of the comments on this journal are great ideas and suggestions. Thanks guys. But the underlining issue here is not that we don't know what to do about the people parking in and blocking our driveway, it's that it should be the chruch of th ascension's responsibility to deal with the problem.
They Do understand the problem (or at least we've made it pretty clear to them that there IS a problem and, as (e:paul)'s journal shows, given them reports and photos) and yet they haven't taken any actions to alleviate the problem. They have instead basically told us to deal with it our selves. Washing their hands clean of the situation. We were told by the church to "call the cops" if it happens again. Why can't the church make it clear to their own customers that 24 Linwood's private driveway is NOT for their use BEFORE we are forced to call the cops? Let the angry drivers be angry with the church, not us. Why not let the church call the cops on their customers who are breaking the law?
If we lived next to a Walgreen's whose costumers kept parking on our private land, shouldn't any signs or fences keeping customers out be placed on the Walgreen's parking lot, and put there by Walgreen's themselves? (sorry Walgreen's, don't mean to drag you into the middle of this.) I feel the church, as the landlords, should take responsibility. I have a bunch of ideas on how the problem can be solved, but the church hasn't showed us that they are really interested or even listening to our complaints. I've talked personally with the Head of the dance camp whose parents are the the repeat parking offenders, I've talked to father Armand of the church of the ascension, and I've talked to the women who represent the church at the Linwood preservations block club meaning about the problem. I have even talked to the people who park in my driveway themselves, and i won't begin to list the derogatory names I've been called and the threats I've been given for politely asking someone to "please not park here, it's a private job." I'm sick of dealing with it myself without the church's help. I really have to say that I'm extremely surprised and disappointed by the lack of maturity on the churches part in dealing with their neighborhood.
Sorry, just wanted to get this off my chest. Thanks
really i think a lot of people may not know. not the repeat offenders but a lot of people prolly do not know they cannot park there. Can't you put a sign on your garage that says no parking in front of here. That can't be against the preservation thing cuz your garage door is already there.
They say that fences make good neighbors; you could put up a fence with a gate to prevent people from using your driveway. Assuming, of course, this would be legal in a preservation district.
One of the less permanent things you could do is use orange traffic cones and/or construction type barricades :::link:::
or :::link:::
along with a no parking private parking sign.
Not particularly elegant but effective.
This is mean to the kids, and possibly illegal, but it would work and be funny.
Do you still have that box of porn from the church trash cans? Tape the most offensive stuff to each car that parks in your driveway.
What about printing up a notice that says something like,
YOUR VEHICLE IS PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. PARKING A VEHICLE HERE CONSTITUTES TRESPASSING.
TRESPASSING IS ILLEGAL.
YOUR VEHICLE'S LICENSE PLATE NUMBER HAS BEEN RECORDED. FUTURE VIOLATIONS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
Leave a blank spot for the date and time; when someone parks in your driveway and you see the car there, fill in the date and time, and place the "ticket" on the windshield of the car.
Write down the license plate number on a list, along with make and model for future reference.
Print out some "parking tickets" and put them on the windshields of the perps.
Charge them $50 for parking there.
Maybe you can make some money out of this thing.
ps: I'll only charge you 10% commission for this advice.
On a more serious note: you could just print out "No loitering: Private Property" signs and put them in a visible place.
We are limited as to what we can do because it is a preservation district. We are not allow to have big signs/banners. I am thinking a video surveillance system that just takes pictures of all the cars that go in and out and posts it to a blog so I can create a giant evidence trails of all the trespassing. Followed by one of the one way tire spike things. But damn they cost like $500 and people will surely retaliate.
Do these people really think that maybe this is part of the church? I would post a sign saying private property. You could also put Video Surveillance in use or something similar. They don't know if any one is really watching. Perhaps a banner that stretches the width of the driveway but up high so you can still park.
I think a human being sitting out there with a shotgun would be a pretty good deterrent.
whenever somebody comes and parks in your driveway, move your car and block them in!
THEN call the police.
I say nails in the drive way.
Have you thought about posting a sign warning people that you're taking down their license plate numbers or something?
What about putting some (heavy, weighted with stones) garbage cans in the driveway?
Inconsiderate people like that are one of the reasons we've moved out of the city. best of luck to you.
Ya, the problem is the people know where we live. So if we do something like spike strip, baracade, call the police they are just going to retaliate.
Could you make a barricade of some sort? One that would block the person from leaving while the cops arrived?